Thread: Dead Level, Help needed

Those blue and yellow digital angle finders are pretty useless. The first one I bought just stopped working after a week and the replacement unit chewed through s set of batteries about every week without even using it but the hardware store would not replace it. I will see if I still have it.

Originally Posted by BobL

Those blue and yellow digital angle finders are pretty useless. The first one I bought just stopped working after a week and the replacement unit chewed through s set of batteries about every week without even using it but the hardware store would not replace it. I will see if I still have it.

I think thats what happened to mine,
I got it in June from fleabay. Its worked for a week then I put it away.
Thought I'd use it and it didn't work, went and got new batteries and when I went to put them in was was totally destroyed, black smoke thru it all.
But seeing I have the new batteries and for a solder job I may as well give it a try. I can alays take the batteries out after each use..
Thanks for having a look, Its only 4 small screws on the back and nothing flies out when you open it.
Peter

Personally, looking at the pic, I suspect that the batteries are the victim rather than the perpetrator, i.e there is a dead short on the board that caused the flash/bang and melted the solder on the released wires, and took the battery as well. I suspect that locating the correct PCB land and resoldering the free cables will probably lead to a reoccurance of the problem.

If it's any consolation my Wixey draws current when off and will flatten the batteries (large buttons), so I open the battery compartment and reverse the battery and replace the cover for storage. Battery lasts years and it takes about 30 seconds when using it to swap the battery over, but I don't have to go looking for a battery.

I'd have to agree with malb. I think it is toast and not worth mucking around with.

Originally Posted by malb

... my Wixey draws current when off and will flatten the batteries ...

Is it any wonder people buy cheap imports when the QC (or design) on the 'name brand' stuff seems to be just as random as on something from the $2.00 store?

Originally Posted by malb

Personally, looking at the pic, I suspect that the batteries are the victim rather than the perpetrator, i.e there is a dead short on the board that caused the flash/bang and melted the solder on the released wires, and took the battery as well. I suspect that locating the correct PCB land and resoldering the free cables will probably lead to a reoccurance of the problem.

I agree. The batteries would definitely not do that on their own - it has to be an internal short and will probably happen again. If the batteries are Lithium polymer, they are prone to fire if shorted.
Is the case metal or plastic? Hard to tell in the pic. I'd be concerned about the fire risk, above all else, if it's a plastic case.
Toss it and buy a decent one.

Originally Posted by Humphrey9999

I agree. The batteries would definitely not do that on their own - it has to be an internal short and will probably happen again. If the batteries are Lithium polymer, they are prone to fire if shorted.
Is the case metal or plastic? Hard to tell in the pic. I'd be concerned about the fire risk, above all else, if it's a plastic case.
Toss it and buy a decent one.

Its a metal case and the inside cleaned up ok with a small brush and some Metho.

Only 1 of the 3 batteries disintegrated, the other 2 still look perfect.
When it didn't work I opened it and checked the batteries.
I may have put them in in any order/way as I assumed they were dead.
I put came back in and a week later got some new ones to put in, Thats when it was cooked.
but the previous 6 months it had sat there with no trouble.

The plastic battery compartment is not melted.
Nothing else looks burnt or toasted (case of components).
Hey for just a bit of solder and time its worth having a go.
think it cost me 30 bucks at the time and don't want to have to buy another one.
I only use it when I've moved the bandsaw top and want to get it correct after use.

Originally Posted by _fly_

Its a metal case and the inside cleaned up ok with a small brush and some Metho.

Only 1 of the 3 batteries disintegrated, the other 2 still look perfect.
When it didn't work I opened it and checked the batteries.
I put them back in and a week later got some new ones to put in, Thats when it was cooked.
I may have put them in in any order/way as I assumed they were dead.
but the previous 6 months it had sat there with no trouble.

The plastic battery compartment is not melted.
Nothing else looks burnt or toasted (case of components).
Hey for just a bit of solder and time its worth having a go.
think it cost me 30 bucks at the time and don't want to have to buy another one.

At least in a metal case it's not likely to cause a fire.

I figured that only one battery would be cactus - after the first battery blew apart the circuit was open and there was no current to fry the other two.

When you put the new batteries in, let it sit for a couple of minutes, turned off, then feel the batteries and see if they're warming up.

I had a look for the angle finder but I can't find it so I maybe chucked it out. Sorry.

Originally Posted by BobL

I had a look for the angle finder but I can't find it so I maybe chucked it out. Sorry.

OK, Thanks for looking.
Anyone else got one of these style they want to open and take a picture?

Can't help with the re-wiring, but I converted my Wixey to run off 2 x AA rechargable batteries after getting the $^%& having to buy new batteries every few weeks. Bought a battery box at Jaycar, then ran the wires thru a hole in the casing and soldered them to the battery contacts, the battery box has an on/off switch built in.